[Haskell-beginners] A question regarding the syntax behind the parenthesis and type class.

[清羽]

this is the original question:


Write a function showAreaOfCircle which, given the radius of a circle, calculates the area of the circle,

showAreaOfCircle 12.3  ⇒ "The area of a circle with radius 12.3cm is about  475.2915525615999 cm^2"

Use the show function, as well as the predefined value pi :: Floating a => a to write showAreaOfCircle.


the type signature works for this function is: showAreaOfCircle :: (Show a, Floating a) => a -> a -> String


my question is : I don't quite understand the syntax behind the parenthesis and the type class Floating a. Since pi is not a function, and hence the entire function only takes one argument which belongs to the type class Show, why should i put a Floating a in the type signature in the first place?(i come up with this type signature because of the error message and the suggestion stated above) Thanks
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